Wal-Mart Greeter Sues Chattanooga and Chattanooga Police Detectives for $21,000,000
February 2, 2009
By Reneé LaSalle

The elderly Wal-Mart greeter shoved to the ground by a Chattanooga Police officer has filed suit.

71 year old Bill Walker was shoved down on Christmas Eve by Detective Kenneth Freeman.

Walker's attorney says the officer also violated his civil rights...

"Little old man, " says attorney Robin Flores of his client Bill Walker.

Walker's chief duties as a Collegedale Wal-Mart greeter include checking customer receipts as they exit the store.

Flores says, "He's a little diminutive guy, kinda stooped, he's in his 70s, wears a hearing aid."

On Christmas Eve Walker was manning the front door as Chattanooga Detective Kenneth Freeman and another officer, both out of uniform, walked toward the exit.

When Walker asks to see the other officer's receipt, he complies...

Kenneth Freeman continues around Walker and toward the door.

Walker runs after Freeman and touches his shoulder.

The video shows what happened next.... Officer Freeman pushes Bill Walker, and Walker hits the ground... When a good samaritan intervenes Freeman shoves him through the door.

Flores says, "This is not Mr. Freeman's first time doing something like that."

Freeman was suspended for 28 days without pay.

Attorney Flores says the incident is offensive.

Monday he filed suit naming the city, Detective Freeman, and the other officer as defendants, "Some folks will say, 'Oh, you're chasing ambulances...' It's not one with high damages."

Since the incident Flores says Walker is too traumatized to perform as a Wal-Mart greeter.

Flores says his client not only suffered pain...but also mental anguish and humiliation.

He's seeking 21 Million Dollars in damages, "His damages are different."

In the complaint, Attorney Flores says the other officer named in the suit did not prevent the assault, did not offer aid to the victim or the good samaritan, and did not call police.